Ex-DTSB employee to be in court today

SOUTH BEND - A woman charged Saturday with embezzling money from Downtown South Bend Inc. is scheduled to make her initial court appearance today.

Christina Garcia, 31, was charged over the weekend with five counts of theft that accuse her of taking money without permission from her former employer.

Garcia is alleged to have written checks to herself.

She surrendered and posted $500 bond at the jail Monday.

Although the specific charges list just five checks amounting to about $10,850, investigators have evidence that more than 100 checks allegedly were written by Garcia, according to the St. Joseph County prosecutorÂ?s office.

Prosecutor Michael Dvorak said he intends to seek full restitution if Garcia is convicted. The total amount missing is about $200,000, authorities said.

If convicted of all five charges, Garcia could receive up to 15 years in prison or up to three years on each count.